Still



April 3, 1928. 1,664,863

- F. PUENING STILL Filed July 25, 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet l April 6 1928. 1,664,863

F; PUENING STILL Filed July 25-, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 VIIIIIIIIIIIAYIIIIIJYIIIIIIIIII '&

April 3, 1928.

F. PUENING STILL Filed July 25, 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 F. PUENING STILL File J ly 25, 1924 7 Sheets-$heet 5 F. PUENING STILL Filed July 25, 1924 pril 3, 1928.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 flets-$heet 7 F. PUENING STILL Filed July 25, 1924 Patented Apr 3, 1928.-

UNITED STATES FRANZ PUENING, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOIPPERS GOMPANY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

STILL.

Application filed July 25, 1924. Serial No. 728,250.

This invention relates in general to an apparatus embodying features of Reissue Patent 15,239 granted to me on Nov; 2-9, 1921 and relates more particularly to an improved form of apparatus adapted to continuously distill heavy oils, tar or wash oil containing benzol, or gasoline, etc.

Objects of the invention. are the provision of apparatus adapted to distill tar or oils which will precipitate solid matter and which must be .distilled at relatively high temperature, said apparatus being constructed so that easy access may be had to various parts for purposes of cleaning and repair; the provisionof such an apparatus also adapted to distill oil for the recovery of asoline and other heavier distillates. When, distilling heavy oils ,or tar or when cracking a certain percentageof the liquid decomposes into carbon and hydrogen which percentage increases rapidly with higher temperatures and pressures, the carbon precipitating' on the nearest available surface,

preferably horizontal ones. The distillation of hydrocarbons results in the formation of a multitude of gas bubbles, which, due to their light weight, have a tendency to rise rapidly to the surface of the body of the liquid. The formationof these bubbles also results in the lessening-of the weight of a given body of the liquid and enables the utilization of the thermo-siphonic principle and also the principle of theair lift pump to effect rapid circulation. The higher speed of circulation results in greater pro- (luctive capacity; it prevents local overheating and formation of coke; it enables the use of. a higher liquid temperature without higher shell temperature. The present invention is concerned, with the utilization of these principles in a large scale apparatus so that the still may be used for distilling oil, which is accomplished at relatively lower temperature and which does not deposit dirt and coke in the still and the apparatus may also be utilized for distilling tar which is done at relatively higher temperatures and which precipitates solid matter that must be cleanedv out of the still at intervals. Be cause of the higher temperatures to which the tar must be subjected the question of heat economy is an important one and the present apparatus is constructed and adapted to operate in an effective and economical manner. An important object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of simple design and construction which gives a maximum circulation and time of contact of the material being treated with the heat ing wall. A further object of this invention is to provide a still which can deal with large amounts of tar or oil and which can steadily and easily be maintained at a de sired temperature. To satisfy these two requirements, the new still has been given a large heating surface and a large bulky form which holds a large volume of liquid. This bulky volume guarantees a steady, uniform temperature even though the intensity of the fire may vary. Such variations in the heat applied to the still are most disastrous in stills WhlCh contain only a small. amount of liquid. The liquid in such stills quickly rises and drops in temperature in unison with the intensity of the fire, thus resulting in incorrect fractions and the necessity of continuous delicate adjustments of the tire. In the new bulky still, however, the temperature of the liquid changes very slowly and the fire can easily be regulated to produce the same temperature in the still throughout the year. However, the ordinary bulky stills suffer under two main disadvantages, the first one beinga tendency of the entering'liquid to short channel from the inlet to the outlet, while other portions of the liquid stagnatein certain corners and become overheated, thus producing bad fractionation. The second. disadvantage con sists in the accumulation of heat in the stag nating nests of liquid, whereby potentiai explosive energy builds up which is. released at intervals with the result that the still boils over. It is an object of this invention toavoid these, disadvantages, and this is aceomplished in the following manner.

The liquid which enters at point A-66- is forced to proceed steadily in a line essen tially parallel to the heating wall. For this purpose the still is subdivided by means of radial battle walls into sectors and three of these walls have openings 81, B, C and D, which lie close to the outside heating surface. The liquid entering at A66, and leaving at E65, must therefore follow aoenerai course indicated by the lines, A, B, ,D, E in the neighborhood of the heating walls. The rapidly rotating currents, produced by the thermosiphonic action of the still, turn "the simple flow of the liqjuid'along the heating walls into a screw line as indicated by G--FH. When'rising from H to G, the liquid absorbs heat and forms vapor bubbles which are given off when passing on the surface from G to F. Since the rotation of the liquid around the screw line, G-F-H is rapid, it follows that the amount of heat accumulated b a given body of liquid between H and is relatively small when that body already reaches the top level where the vapors disengage themselves from the liquid. Accumulation of explosive energy of vapors is therefore impossible and distillation proceeds quietly without bumping or boilm over.

l3y virtue of the flow of the liquid through the still as described above, the danger of boil-overs is eliminated in spite of the large amount of liquid present in the still and this bulky volume, after the dangers have thus been eliminated, now becomes a virtue, guaranteeing a steady temperature of the still and good fractionation. Important advantages of the invention are the low in-.

itial cost of installation a greater percentage of vapors recovered; simplicity and low cost of operation, higher quality of recovered products and the invention has such other objects and advantages as may be found to obtain in the structure hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompan ing drawings forming a part of this speci catlon, and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention specifically to such illustrative instance or instances:

On the drawin s:

Figure '1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention.

Fi 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3..

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longtudinal vertical sectional view taken through the setting for the apparatus showing the arrangement thereof and the location of the baffles therein.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the still proper that is contained within the setting.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. .6.

Fig. 8'is' a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 6. p I Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 11.--11 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 6.

.Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1414 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the still proper of such modified form of apparatus.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line AA of Fig. 15. r

Fig. 17 is a. vertical sectional View taken on the line B-B of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line E-E of Fig. 20.

Fig. 19 is a horizontal view, partly in section and partly in plan, taken on the line CC of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line DD of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line FF of Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line (Er-G of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 14, there is shown a foundation 31 which may consist of common red brick, and on top of the foundation 31 is arranged a layer 32 of fire brick. Extending upwardly from the foundation 31 and surrounding the still proper 33 is the setting, which is composed of an inner lining of fire brick 34, an outer layer of common red brick 35 and a layer of insulating brick interposed between the layers 34 and 35. The fire brick is spaced from the still 33 to provide a circular flue 37 into which baffies 38 extend upwardly and which are arranged in alternation with depending bafiles 39. The top ofthe flue 37 is closed by brickwork 41 having openings 42 therein for cleaning purposes, these openings having covers 43. At the front of the setting, there is provided a combustion chamber 44 that supplies heat directly to the flue 37 through the port 45. To the left of the combustion chamber the flue 37 is in communication with a stack 46 by means of a port 47. Doors 48 are located in the lower portions of the setting for purposes of cleaning the flue 37.

The still 33 is contained within the setting, said still havin a metallic bottom 49 that rests upon the re brick 32, said bottom 49 having a marginal flange 51 that is riveted to a cylindrical vertically extending metallic heating wall 52 that forms the fourth Wall for the flue 37. 53 is a metallic top plate having a mar inal flange 54 riveted to the upper edge of said heating-wall, said top plate having a centrally disposed opening 55.

Surrounding the opening 55 is flanging 56 to-whlch 'a cover 57 is bolted or otherwise rigidly but removablysecured. Positioned I centrally of said cover 57 is an outlet nozzle ing the distillation operation may be lead off. The opening 55 is provided for the purpose of connecting a rectifying tower to the top of the still when desired. 59 is a manhole which is closed by a cover plate 61. 62 indicates an opening through which a thermometer may be inserted and 63 an opening for temperature control. Located at the upper end of the cylindrical metallic heating wall is a conduit 64 through which vapors are returned to the still, i. e., vapors that have been developed in the distilling operation and that have been carried with the residue flowing out the outlet 65 in the upper end of the heating wall.

66 is a material inlet through which material to be treated flows into the still. The inlet is located at a point adjacent the outlet for the heating gases and the outlet for the material undergoing treatment is located at a point adjacent the inlet for the heating gases so that the heating gases flow countercurrent to the flow of the material undergoing treatment and transmit more intense heat to the material undergoing the last stages of distillation and impart progressively less heat to the material as the heating gases flow around the still, thereby causing the material to become gradually hotter as it flows towards the outlet and preheating it for its next hotter step in the distillation process. The combustion chamber is built in withthe setting so that the heating gases flow directly to the flue 37. By such an arrangement, simplicity in construction and operation are obtained and more effective utilization of the heat in an economical manner is assured.

The still 33 is divided into compartments by partitions 67 and 68, the partit1on-67 extending diametrically across the space pro.- vided by the heating wall 52 and welded thereto as indicated at 69. The partitions 68 extend from the heating wall 52, to which they are welded, to the longitudinal center of the partition 67 to which they are rigidly secured as by bolts 71. The partitions 67 and 68 are flanged obliquely at their lower edges 72 and these flanges 72 are welded, to the bottom 49. The upper edges of the partitions terminate above the inlet and outlet openings but below the opening for the vapor return vent.

Cylindrical vertically extending metallic battle plates 74 are arranged concentric to the heating wall 52. Said baflle plates, when in operating position, are spaced a short distance from the heating wall 52. As shown, there are two of such baflle plates secured within each compartment, each'hingedly secured to the adjacent partition by hinges 7 5,

and the hinged edges are braced by angle bars 76. The other vertical edges of said plates are alsobraced by angle bars 77 and these edges are bolted together when in operating position so thatthey are rigidly but removably secured together. When it is desired to clean the still, especially the heating walls 52, these bolts are removed and the baflies swung out on their hinges so that access may-be had to the heating wall. The extreme vertical edge of each of said' battle plates, adjacent the partition are flanged obliquely at 77 in order that when the baflle plates are swung into operating position, these edges 77 are in wedge tight engagement with the adjacent partition. The upper edge 78 of each of said baffle plates terminate below the line of the top level of the material undergoing treatment and the bottom edge 79 of said plates are spaced from the bottom 49 of the still so that the material may flow under the plates and upwardly between the heating wall and the baffle plates. In order'to provide for flow of material from one compartment to another, apertures 81 are provided in each partition. In the present instance, these apertures are located at the upper end of said partition but below the top level of the material undergoing treatment between the batfie plates and the heating wall. For purposes of draining the still, nozzle 82 is provided in the lower portion thereof between the heating wall and the bottom. This nozzle 82 is used only when emptying the still for inspection and cleaning.

- Referring to Figs. 15 to 22, a modified form of distilling apparatus is illustrated, in which the battle plates are not hingedly secured to the partitions but are bolted directly thereto by bolts 83. The combustion chamber is of the Dutch oven type having checkerwork 84 through which the heating gases pass into a lower heating flue 85, the gases flowing around the still both'to the left and to the right until they reach the port 86 through which the gases flow into a flue 86 and then passing forwardly through the flue 86 both to the left and to the right until it reaches a port 87 into a flue 87 through which it flows both to the left and to the right rearwardly to the port 88 and out through the stack 89.

The top plate 53 is covered by insulation. 91 and to prevent the hot gases from coming in contact with the bottom of the cylindrical portion of the still, a layer of sand 92 is provided.

In operation, the heating gases flow through the space provided between the methrough the a ertures 81 in the partitions. The material etween the bafile plates and the heating walls flows upwardly in accordance with the thermo-siphonic principle in a thin stream as it becomes heated and the vapors developed flow into the space between the top level of the material being treated and the top of the still. Consequently in each compartment, the material flows under each battle and upwardly between the baflle late and the heating wall where it is subected to distillation and then flows over the upper edge of the baflie plate and downwardl 1 in the compartment proper.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in a particular form of construction but may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

1. A tar still adapted for continuous operation comprising, in combination: a cylindrical plate providing a vertical heating wall and a space; a bottom and cover therefor; material inlet and outlet openings therefor; partitions arranged within said plate to provide compartments, one of said partitions extending diametrically across the space provided by said plate, and the other of said partitions extending from. said plate to said diametrically extending partition, the upper ends of said partitions terminating a short distance above the inlet and out-let openings;

' vertically extending ballles arranged between each two partitions and alongside of but spaced from said plate, the lower edges of said battles being spaced from said bottom, and the upper edges stopping below I the outlet opening level, each of said baflles being hingedly secured to its partition; said partitions having apertures therein near their upper edges and below the outlet opening level and between the baffles and the heating plate to permit passage of the material being treated from one compartment to the next.

2. A t'ar still as clalmed in claim 1, and including a setting surrounding the cylindrical metallic plate and providing a heating in direct contact with said plate; alternately arranged depending and upwardly extending bafiles within said space; a combustion chamber communicating. with said space at a point adjacent the outlet for the material being treated; an outlet for leading said combustion ases off fromsaid heating space at a point a j acent the inlet for the material being treated, whereby said combustion gases 7 flow countercurrent to the direction of flow of the material being treated in said still.

4. A still comprising, in combination: an upwardly extending cylindrical metallic heating wall enclosing a space; a metallic bottom and top rigidly connected therewith; said top having an opening therein; cover for said opening; material inlet and outlet openings for the space provided by said heating wall; partitions dividing said space into compartments and terminating a short distance above said inlet and outlet 0 enings; passages for the flow of material troni one compartment to another; a plurality of \-'crtically extending ballles between each two partitions and hingedly secured thereto, the hinged edges of said bellies being formed to tit tightly against the adjacent partition and the other edges of said baflles being rigidly secured together when in operating position, the lower edges of said battles being spaced from the bottom and the upper edges terminating short of the line of the top level or the material being treated; said bullies being arranged adjacent to but spaced from said heating wall to permit upward ilow of a thin stream of material being treated.

5. A tar still comprising, in combination: an upwardly extending cylindrical metallic heating wall enclosing a space; a metallic bottom and a metallic top connected with said heating wall; an inlet and an outlet for the passage of material being treated; partitions arranged within and dividin said space into compartments and terminating at. their upper ends a short distance above the inlet and the outlet; passages for the flow of material from one compartment to another; battles between each two partitions, said bullies beingarranged adjacent to but spaced from said heating wall to permit upward flow of a thin stream of material beihg treated; a setting surrounding said heating wall and providing a space through which heating gases may flow; baffles extending into said space; and a combustion chamber communicating with said heating space.

- 6. A still as claimed in claim 5 and in which the combustion chamber communicates with the heating space at a point adjacent the outlet for the material being treated and which includes an outlet that takes waste heat gases off at a point adjacent the inlet for the material being treated.

7. A still as claimed in claim 5 and in which the combustion chamber communicates with said heating space so that the combustion gases flow countercurrent to the direction of flow of the material being treated. I

8. A still having a cylindrical vertically extending metallic heating wall: a topand a bottom therefor; an inlet and an outlet therefor"; vertically extending partitions subdividing said still into connected compartments and having their upper edges terminating above the inlet and the outlet; cy lindrical vertically extending metallic bafiles arranged alongside of but spaced from said heating wall, said'bafllcs being adapted to permit fiow of material at their lower portion towards said heating wall and permit ting flow of material at its upper portion from said heating wall; a setting enclosing said heating wall and providing a heating space; said heating space being divided into a plurality of annular heating fines; a combustion chamber communicating with a lower heating flue; said lower heating flue communicating with the next upper flue by a port at the other end of said lower flue, saidnext upper flue communicating with the fluexthereabove through a port at the combustion chamber end of said flues, said last mentioned flue communicating at its other end with a stack. a

9. A still having a cylindrical vertically extending metallic heating wall; a top and a bottom welded thereto, an inlet and an outlet therefor"; vertically extending partitions therein and welded to said bottom; one

of said partitions extending diametrically therein and having each end welded to said heating wall; the others of said partitions having one edge welded to said heating Wall and the other edge rigidly secured to said diametrically extending partition, the upper edges of said'partitions terminating above the inlet and outlet; cylindrical vertically extending'metallic bafiles arranged concentric to, alongside of, but spaced from said heating Wall, said bafiies beingrigidly secured to said partitions and having their lower edges terminating above said bottom and the upper edges terminating below the line of outlet for the material being treated; and means for heating said heating wall.

10. A still having an upwardly extending heating wall; an inlet and an outlet therefor; partitions therein subdividing said still into communicating compartments; bafiles arranged alongside of but spaced from said heating wall between said partitions, said baflles being adapted to permit flow of material at their lower portions towards said heating wall and permitting flow of niate rial at its upper portion from said heating wall a setting surrounding said heating wall; said setting providing a heating space through which gases may ass in direct contact with said heating wa. 1; means supplying heat to said heating space adjacent said outlet; means for leading the waste heat off adjacent said inlet,,whereby the flow of heat in the heating space is rcountercurrent to the flow of material being treated.

11. A still having a vertically extending heating wall; said heating wall defining a space for holding material to be treated, an inlet and an outlet therefor, partitions within said space subdividing the space into comn'iunicating compartments, baffles arranged alon'gside but spaced from said heating wall to confine the material in a thin stream while being heated, said ballies being spaced from the bottom of the compartments and terminating at their upper ends, below the'outlet for the material being treated, and means for heating said heating wall.

12. A still having an upwardly extending cylindrical heating wall: partitions subdividing the space inside said heating wall into compartments: baffles arranged concentric with said heating wall, said baliles being adapted to permit flow of material from one side thereof to the other. and a connection disposed between said battles and said heating wall for flow of the material being treat ed from one compartment to the next and means for heating said heating wall.

13. A still having an upwardly extending heating wall; partitions subdividing into compartments the space inside said heating wall; battles, arranged alongside said heating wall, said bafiles being spaced from said heating wall to permit the material being treated to flow upwardly as it becomes heated between the heating wall'and said baffies and downwardly on the other side of said baflies and. a connection disposed between said bafiles and said heating wall for flow of the material being treated from one compartment to the next.

14:. A still having an upwardly extending metallic heating wall, a metallic bottom and a metallic top secured thereto; partitions subdividing the space within said heating wall into compartments, said partitions being welded to said bottom and to said heating wall but terminating below said top; bafilessecured to said partitions and arranged-alongside of but spaced from said heating wall, saidbafiles being adapted to permit flow of material at their lower portion towards said heating wall and permitting flow of said material at its upper portion from said heating wall.

15. A still having a cylindrical vertically extending metallic heating wall; a top and bottom welded thereto; an inlet and outlet therefor; vertically extending partitions therein having-flanges at their lower portions welded to said bottom; one of said partitions extending diametrically therein and having flanges at each end welded to said heating wall; the other of said parti tions having one' edge flanged and Welded to said heating wall and the other edge of said other partition flanged and rigidly secured to said diametrically extending partition, the upper edges ofsa-id partition terminating above the inlet andputlet; cylin- III drical vertically extending metallic baflles arranged concentric to, alongside of, but spaced from said heating wall, said battles being rigidly secured to said partitions, the

lower edge of said bafiles terminating above said bottom and the upper edges terminating below the line of the outlet for the material being treated.

16. Ast-ill having a cylindrical upwardly extending heating wall, a top and a bottom adjacent thereto, an inlet and an outlet therefor, partitions therein subdividing said still into compartments; 'bafies arranged concentric to but spaced from said heating wall, said baffles being rigidly secured tos'a-id partitions, said bailies being spaced from said bottom and terminating at their upper ends below the outlet for the material to be treated.

17" A. still having a cylindrical upwardly extending heating wall, a top and 'a bottom adjacent thereto, an inlet and an outlet therefor, partitions therein subdividing said still into compartments; bafiies arranged concentric to but spaced from said heating well, said battles being rigidly secured to said partitions, said baffles being spaced said partitions, said bafies being spaced from said bottom and terminating at their upper ends below the outlet for the materia tobe treated; a setting surrounding said heating wall; said setting providing a heat ling space through which gases may pass 1n direct contact with said heating wall and means for supplying heat to said heating space. 1

19. A still having a cylindrical upwardly extending heating wall, a top and a bottom adjacent thereto, an inlet and an outlet therefor, partitions therein subdividing said still into compartments; baflies arranged concentric to but spaced from said heating wall, said baflles being rigidly secured to said partitions, said baliles being spaced from said bottom and terminating at their upper ends below the outlet for the material to be treated; and a combustion cham her for heating said heating wall.

20. A still'comprising a cylindrical metallic heating wall; a convex cover therefor; a substantially fiat bottom therefor; said heating wall, top and bottom forming a-material holding receptacle; an inlet to said receptacle; an outlet from said receptacle; partitions in said receptacle extending to said heating wall and extending from said bottom toabove said inlet and means for confining material'undergoing treatment in a thin stream alongside said heating wall and a passage in said partitions and near their upper edges for flow of material from one'compartment to the next, said passage being disposed between said means and said heating wall.

In vwitness whereof I' have hereunto set my hand.

' FRAN Z PUENING. 

